This resolution endorses federal and state efforts to use private labs for routine environmental testing. It condemns the use of taxpayer dollars for the construction of new environmental laboratories.

Model Resolution

Section 1. {Short title} This Resolution shall be known as the Resolution on Environmental Laboratory Privatization.

Section 2. {Model Resolution}

WHEREAS, government has limited resources and must prioritize the services it offers and the function it performs; and

WHEREAS, there is a need for accurate, unbiased, and reliable environmental testing date to protect public health and the environment; and

WHEREAS, there is an increasing trend of government laboratories taking over routine testing procedures for environmental monitoring and site cleanups required by federal, state and local regulations; and

WHEREAS, competition in the private sector capacity to perform analyses of environmental samples across the country; and

WHEREAS, private sector laboratories are subject to strict quality assurance control programs and a regularly certified and audited by federal and state agencies; and

WHEREAS, spending federal or state taxpayer dollars to build, equip and operate government laboratories to compete against existing private sector laboratories is not only wasteful but deprives state and local governments of potential tax revenue from these same private sector laboratories, now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that {insert state} supports the use of private sector environmental laboratories to perform routine environmental monitoring analysis, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the {insert state} supports federal and state legislation prohibiting the use of government funds to construct, equip, and operate government owned and/or operated laboratories to perform routine environmental analysis and services that are available through private sector laboratories, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House, The President ProTempore of the Senate and to every member of this state’s Congressional Delegation.